W. E. B. Du Bois

“It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity.”

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DuBois is so quotable. I always found his idea of double consciousness to be so expansive across so many places of difference. I remember writing an essay in college about DuBois’ idea and how it applied to so many Latinx people, as well. We are this blend of all sorts of things and yet some of us are Black and thus fit right in the mold as DuBois describes it. Others of us, like me, are white, and we, thus are privy to the “secret” thoughts of white people, who drop their guards around me, assuming my sameness. Language really throws a wrench into the whole thing. Is my Spanish adequate? Can it ever be? Am I less “real” because my Spanish is less “authentic?”
That Veil is real.

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